Mechanical test conducted in their own factory using testing apparatus designed and built by TP engineers. As far as TP know, it is the only test rig of its kind in existence.
The rig works using a pneumatic cylinder driven by compressed air. The cylinder represents the force of a person jumping on a trampoline and has a programmable logic controller which allows TP to alter bounce amplitude and frequency. The weight of the bounce head can also be altered to reflect the different user weights recommended for each trampoline. It is important to note this is an actual physical test, not a computer simulation. This test rig examines the durability of all elements of the trampoline components: frame, legs, joints, springs, pads, D rings that join the trampoline bed to springs, bed stitching.
It takes around 40 days, 12 hours a day, for a trampoline to achieve a pass on the 1 million bounces test. That's approximately 2000 bounces per hour for 500 hours. Passing a 1 million bounce test means the trampoline frame has exceeded 1 million bounces by the pneumatic cylinder and remains in good condition with no failure at all.
The test rig plays a vital role in product design. Miles Mann, Senior Designer at TP, comments: 'We use the test rig to inform our design process. Our trampoline designs, especially in the case of the TP Star range, are truly innovative. They are also exceptional in terms of performance and durability, and we can make sure of that by putting new designs through their paces on the test rig well before they reach the marketplace and TP customers'.
Using the test rig also ensures that the quality of TP trampolines remains consistently high, production batch after production batch.
TP Quality Manager Steven Lloyd added: 'We wanted to raise our game in terms of trampoline testing and safety and so developed this test rig to prove that our warranties and maximum user weights are genuine and reliable. It's easy to make claims on user weights and performance - we can prove them."
